How do you make your Christmas lunch table look really classy/special? 17 for lunch....

[mrspink27]

Help! I am hosting Christmas lunch this year, and there will be 17 of us! My MIL usually does it and her table always looks fab!

We are having to bring in the patio table and squeeze it next to the kitchen table to fit everyone in ( we are fortunate to have a separate dining room ) but just waking up to the idea that I will need a tablecloth and proper serviettes and crackers...

How can I make my table look really special, in a classy way?

Any tips for special little touches would be really appreciated!

There will be 9 adults 3 older teenagers, 3 pre teens and the dds 5 and 3!

Thanks everyone.

TBH if you want to fit all the food on I would imagine you would struggle to do anything much else.

I had 17 for Christmas once. I borrowed table cloths from my Mum and MIL and once the food was on, there was no room for crackers let alone decs.

I should think it will be far too hectic for anyone to notice the table - but great fun.

Have at least one glass of something before lunch and make sure you take up all offers to help with the washing up!

Have you worked out how everything will fit in the oven yet? In the end my mum cooked the turkey and brought it round wrapped in blankets.

I had Christmas dinner last year for the first time and had 8 to dinner.

My table looked like this. It was not all from Next, you get much the same from Matalan or Asda. I got
these because they were so cute, and everyone loved them!

A white table cloth with a coloured runner in the middle is cheaper and looks better than a fancy table cloth. Make sure all the plates match, we got plain white with a gold rim from Poundstretcher for £5.99 for 12 pieces.

Get some crackers that match the table runner and some foil confetti for in the middle.

Can you buy/borrow white tablecloths? Even if they are not identical they will disguise the fact that you have a couple of tables. I would then put a coloured runner down the middle (you could buy one or get some cheap cloth from a market).

Then paper napkins and crackers (and candles if you can handle them!) in matching colours.

I usually go for a silver theme with the napkins/runner/crackers or jewel colours

Snap Hippo!

I've used wrapping paper for the runner before now.

Sorry xmas theming makes me

I had got as far as thinking a huge white sheet and then some of that table protector stuff underneath, and thats about it. very inspired... not!

We have an aga, so will be cooking the turkey overnight, prepping as much before hand as possible, roast potatoes peeled par boiled and frozen, sauces etc made...

Ruby... that sounds sooooo tempting! but Christmas is a big deal in DHs family, the other guests are his sisters their families and his parents and my mum... have a lot to live up to!

Thanks for all your suggestions... will keep checking back to see if there are any more!

I have bought three small table trees from the V and A- they are gold wire swirled into a tree shape, with cristal balls hanging off them ..sound odd but are divine. I also have snowflake shaped silver and white sequins which aren't tacky, that i will sprinkle all over the table. Then I bought 12 napkin rings www.johnlewis.com/Home+and+Garden/Dining+Room/Table+Linen/Napkin+Rings/890/ProductType.aspx, 6 of the spray beaded ones and 6 silver ornate beaded. I have silver and gold candles too..all with white linen:D Will see what else needs to be added nearer the time! How I love Christmas.......

Very nice lovey. Going to JL at the weekend so will have a look then.